By Brendan O’Malley – Managing Editor. In Commentary, Philip Altbach and Jamil Salmi ask whether the secret recipe that makes universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology a world-class entrepreneurial institution can have the same effect in transforming others. Thomas Estermann and Enora Bennetot Pruvot issue a plea for reliable funding for Europe’s Horizon 2020 programme, rather than the constant attacks from parties that fail to connect finances to the policy objective of smart and sustainable growth for Europe. And Savo Heleta appeals to the international community to help prioritise the rebuilding of higher education systems and institutions in countries that have suffered violent conflict.
If first-generation, low-income students are to gain access to higher education and succeed in their studies, special effort needs to be expended on consciously developing social capital at schools in poor communities, reports Karen MacGregor in a Special Report from the Teaching and Learning in Higher Education conference which took place in Durban, South Africa, last week.
In this week’s World Blog, Hans de Wit says there is still a long way to go to realising the optimistic ideal of internationalisation, which should be extended to all and not just the mobile minority.
A second Special Report forms part of a series of articles ahead of the International Council for Open and Distance Education conference next month, with Aziza Ellozy this week focusing on the importance of well-trained faculty for online learning. Read more...